Winding-indicator for watches.



L. L. D. ELDERKIN. WINDING INDICATOR FOR WATCHES.

APPLIOATION IILED NOV. 19, 1908.

Patented A131113, 1909.

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LESTER L. D. ELDERJIN, Ol? ROXBURY, MrrCfiCl-.UJSE'I'FS No. elsfisz.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 13, 1909.

Application filed November 19, 19GB. Serial No. 463,355.

This invention relates to winding indicators for watches.

lt has tor its oligect an improved attachn'ient to be used in connection with the main spring ol" watch, or similar time piece, lor the purpose ol' indicating when the spring ol'v the watch is unwound7 or relaxed, and in a condition to need rewinding.

ln the drawings liigure l, is a plan view, indicating the general location of the wheels of a watch, and indicating the general location of this attaclnnent. fio'. 2, is a sectional elevation, showing the barrel, main driving wheel, and winding or ratchet wheel of a watch, and showing the indicator in operative connection therewith. ig. 3, shows the index in direct connection with the winding shaft.

l indicates that portion ot the main frame ot the watch which is next adjacent to the face. 2 indieates that portion of the frame which is most removed. from the lace. Between these frame pieces l and 2 and the harel 2) is located. and connected with the barrel 3 'is the main driving wheel Upon the post is secured-the main spring and on. the projecting end ol' the post 5 is secured. a ratchet wheel fj, which holds the spring against reverse action after it has been wound. As is weil known, the driving wheel d, and the ratchet wheel always have the same movement in circular rotation, generally a right-hand movement. rThe key or other winding mechanism applied to the ratchet wheel 6 turns the ratchet wheel and shaft 5, and winds a spring which is included in the barrel 3. The spring is at this time held against rapid movement by the engagement of the driving wheel with the train of wheels which constitute the works ot the watch. After the spring has been wound, and while it is held against reverse movement by the ratchet wheel 6, the driving ings which are held by the main. traine. rlhese bearings are secured to the main traine comprising, as onei ring tno 1orar/kel; l0 and as another biaring th Il,

e bracket secured in an;v way to the inain trame. 'ihe screw 9 engages in the shaft l2 of the second wheel i3, which is in engagement with the ratchet wheel o. The shalt l2 is hollow, and the screw i) is adapted to have longritudine-l movement along the interior ol the shait 12, and is held to turn axially with Ithe sli-ai 9. This may be accomplished in any well known way, for example, by shitting the screw and placing a pin le through the slot and through. the walls ol the hollow shaft The end lo ol the screw Q is rovided with an indicator which may be in the 'torni olf a small disk, which terminates the. end of the screw, and which should preferably have a distinguishing color trom the face 17 ol the watch.

ln the ordinary watch, the ratchet wheel requires about live and one-halt revolutions to completely wind the spring, and the drum makes about five and one-halt revolutions in unwinding it7 and this movement oi either of the members will cause the screw to advance along the hollow shaft a distance that will be given to it by live and one-half turns of the thread; inasmuch as the screw is advanced or retracted because ot the engagement with it of the hollow screw threaded hub S. This movement may be ina-de to equal one-eighth of an inch, or thereabouts7 and il', when liully projected toward the face, the indicating tablet i6 is ilush withy the tace, when hilly retracted, the tablet will be retracted about one-eighth of an inch therefrom; the change ot' position is amply sullicient to indicate to the user that the watch is run down, or nearl i run down.

ln Fig. 3, is shown a form of the device in which an index is applied. directly to the l i i l winding shaft. The barrel 3l has a hollow hub 32, which is threaded and l'orms the nut for a screw 33 that runs into the hollow shaft 34 of the ratchet wheel 35. The shank of the screw 83 is slotted, and a lpin 3G engaging through the slot is lixed to the hollow shaft 'i ne hul;A is mounted in suitaoie 1rear- 34. The screw 33 has a movement longitudinal of its axis and is driven out to bring the end 83 toward or to the surface of the face 3Q of the watch, and the reverse movement of the screw along its axis is produced by the movement of the drum as it actuates the works of the watch.

in the arrangement shown in Fig. 2, the screw should have its thread cut with a left hand thread, and in the form shown in Fig. 3 the screw should be cut with a right thread g the indication have the same meaning in both forms, a retracted posit-ion of the screaT indicating that the watch needs winding.

l. A winding indicator for watches, having in combination with the master wheel and ratchet wheel of a watch, a pair of wheels, a member longitudinally movable on its axis driven in such longitudinal movement by the movement of the wheels, substantially as described. l

2. A winding indicator for watches, having in combination the master wheel and ratchet wheel of a watch, a wheel driven by the master wheel, a second Wheel driven by the ratchet wheel, a longitudinallyT movable member having an indicating terminal, and means whereby the last mentioned wheels actuate the indicator, substantially as described.

3. A winding indicator for watches, having in combination a winding and driving mechanism of a watch, and an indicator member having` a gear connection therewith, whereby rotative motion is imparted thereto, said motion causing a movement of said indicator longitudinally of its axis, substantially as described.

4. A winding indicator, having in combination an internally threaded nut, a complementarily threaded indicator member engaging therethrough and capable of longitudinal movement along its axis, a hollow shaft into which the indicator member extends, means for securing the indicator member to the shaft, whereby it is caused to rotate therewith, and means for imparting rotative motion to the shaft, substantially as described.

5. A winding indicator for watches, having in combination an indicating member adapted to reciprocate along its axis of rotation, means whereby the said indicating member is reciprocated alternately longitudinally of its axis by rotative movement imparted to it by the winding mechanism and the driving mechanism of said watch.

in testimony whereof, l sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses` LESTER L. D. ELERKIN. xfitnesses:

CHARLES F. BURTON, VIRGINIA C. SPRATT. 

